Royal couple’s children to receive formal titles

Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge and Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, leave the King Edward VII Hospital together.

Queen Elizabeth II has issued a decree to ensure all children born to Prince William and Catherine, Duchess Of Cambridge will receive a royal title.

The young couple is currently expecting a baby and authorities in Britain are fast-tracking a new law to change the rules on succession so if the child is a girl, she will be allowed to rule after her father – a right traditionally reserved for male heirs.

The Queen has now issued a formal decree to declare all of the couple’s children will be given royal titles, instead of just the first boy. The ruling means that if Catherine gives birth to a baby girl, she will receive the title of Princess.

All boys after their first-born son will also receive the title of Prince.

The decree was issued on December 31, but was not made public until Wednesday.